Who is Clare Kendry Bellew from Passing and what is their importance?

Clare Kendry Bellew is a woman of mixed heritage. Her father was white, and her mother was black. As a result,, Clare has pale skin and nearly blond hair, traits that allow her to live among the white without anyone guessing her true heritage. After her father's death, Clare lives with her white aunts, who treat her like a servant. She later moves into white society where she meets and marries John Bellew.

Many years later, Clare runs into Irene at the Drayton Hotel and realizes how much she misses her black heritage and the friends she left behind. Her secret becomes a huge burden, but she finds solace spending time in the Redfield's home. As time passes, Irene begins to believe that her husband, Brian, is having an affair with Clare. This leads to tragedy for Clare when her husband learns her secret.